Clamp



June 27, 1967 J. DANKd ETAL CLAMP 3 Sheets-Sheet l I Filed Dec. 29, 1964 INVENTORS DANKO JOHN KENNETH D. JEFFRIES ATTORNEY J. DANKO ETAL June 27, 1967 CLAMP 3 Sheets-Sheet Filed Dc. 29, 1964 YIIIII/IIII/III v INVENTORS JOHN DANKO KENNETH D. JEFFRIES ATTORNEY June 27, 1967 J. DAN KO I ETAL.

CLAMP Filed Dec.

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS JOHN DANKO KENNETH D. JEFFRIES ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,328,023 CLAMP John Danko, 7824 Birmingham Ave., Baltimore, Md.

21234, and Kenneth D. Jetlries, 28 Luke Drive, Pasadena, Md. 21122 Filed Dec. 29, 1964, Ser. No. 421,831 1 Claim. (Cl. 269-165) This invention relates to a clamp of the type known as C clamps, designed to engage two opposite surfaces and to exert pressure on those surfaces toward each other or away from each other by the application of a screw or other mechanical device.

Heretofore C-clamps have been made of different sizes for application to diiferent jobs requiring more or less distance in -the longitudinal direction so that the ends of the C-clamp might encompass the piece of work to be clamped. This limitation of the clamp to the distance along a longitudinal axis necessitated the purchase of many of these clamps of different sizes in order to have one of the desired size at hand. Also the distance normal to that of the longitudinal axis was limited by the depth of the clamp and the size of the work piece that it would accommodate. This made necessary the manufacture of all sizes and shapes of C-clamps.

It is the object of this invention to provide a single clamp so designed that its length may be adjusted and the distance normal to its length be varied so that a single clamp with attachments of an inexpensive nature might be used in all normal clamping activity.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a.clamp .of the normal formation of the usual C-clamp but having its longitudinal section fitted to the end pieces by being threaded to them and to be interchangeable with other similar pieces of different lengths to provide for the normal difierences in length usually encountered in the use of a C-clamp.

It is another object of the present invention to provide means for locking the interchangeable piece securely to the end pieces so that there is no chance of rotation between the two ends and the longitudinal section.

Also suitable slip or spring clamp on adapters to the feet 17 and 21 to prevent maring material, or holding pipe, angle iron, etc. as work is secured.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide means by which the longitudinal interchangeable piece may be removed from its usual position to a position more remote from the clamping ends in order to accommodate a work piece of greater depth.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide in each of the end pieces adjacent to the threaded ends, a threaded socket to receive an extension which would be normal to the longitudinal axis of the clamp and to attach the longitudinal interchangeable piece to the terminations of these extensions.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a plurality of .both the longitudinal interchangeable pieces and the normal extensions, in diilerent sizes, with the increment of difference being less than the length of the screw.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide these interchangeable pieces of an inexpensive nature such as sections of pipe or solid steel bar for heavy work threaded at each end sufficient to receive a lock nut and to be threaded into the sockets of the clamp end pieces.

While several objects of the invention have been pointed out, other objects, uses and advantages will be' come more apparent as the nature of the invention is more fully disclosed, including the novel structure, conformation and arrangement of its several parts as shown 3,328,023 Patented June 27, 1967 "ice 1 in the accompanying drawing and described in the detailed description to follow.

In the drawings;

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation of the clamp showing parts of the clamp in section and with the interchangeable piece broken to indicate an indeterminate length;

FIGURE 2 illustrates the clamp in position about a workpiece with both the normal extensions and the longitudinal interchangeable piece in position.

FIGURE 3 illustrates the clamp in use with only the longitudinal interchangeable piece in operation.

FIGURE 4 is a detail view in section illustrating the joining of the normal extensions with the longitudinal interchangeable piece.

FIGURE 5 illustrates the use of the clamp on a workpiece, where the pressure exerted against the workpiece is not in a straight line parallel to the longitudinal axis of the clamp.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the locking nut.

FIGURE 7 illustrates the plurality of interchangeable pieces showing the lengths to be different, with that increment of differences being less than the length of the screw.

FIGURE 8 is a front elevation of a modification of the clamp.

FIGURE 9 shows the modification of FIGURE 8 as applied to work pieces.

Referring particularly to the drawings wherein like parts are designated by like numbers, the type shown in FIGURES 1 and 3 is that of the clamp where only the longitudinal interchangeable piece is used. Here, end pieces 12 and 13 are of the usual curvature or may be described as of substantial J-shape, with the curved end of end piece 12 having the usual threaded socket 14 receiving the screw 15. The screw 15 is formed with a handle portion 16 and a workpiece engaging swivel end 17. The other end of the end piece 12 or what may be described as the stern of the J terminates in a threaded socket 18. The end piece 12 is further formed with an integral socket 19 adjacent the socket 18, with the socket 19 extending outward of the clamp and normal to the longitudinal axis of the stem of the J-s'haped end piece. The end piece 13 is formed at the curved end of the I with the customary workpiece engaging flattened anvil 21. At its other end or at the end of the stem of the J the end piece 13 is formed similarly to end piece 12 with a threaded socket 22 extending from its longitudinal axis end, and a threaded socket 23 located adjacent to socket 22 and extending normal to the longitudinal axis of the stern of the J and outwardly therefrom.

Adapted to be interchangeably threaded into sockets 18 and 22, a threaded pipe 24 connects the end pieces and forms the longitudinal section of the clamp. This pipe is interchangeable with other similar pipes of diiferent lengths to provide a clamp of substantially indeterminate length. By making the interchangeable pipes of a length gradually increasing by an increment not greater in length than the length of the screw, the clamp may be adjusted to accommodate all sizes of workpieces. The threaded pipe 24 is prevented from accidentally turning in either of the sockets by lock nuts 25. Plugs 26 may be threaded into the sockets 19 and 23 when not fitted with extension pieces tokeep out dirt.

Referring to FIGURE 2, the end pieces are fitted with extensions normal to the longitudinal axis of the clamp. These extensions may be in the form of pipe sections 27 which are provided with lock nuts and threaded into the sockets 19 and 23. These normal extensions may be of any length, within the limits of the extension pipes to remain sufficiently rigid to use the clamp. Fitted to the outward ends of the extensions are ordinary pipe elbows 28 to which the longitudinal interchangeable pieces are threaded instead of being threaded into sockets 18 and 22.

This structure gives the clamp greater depth and permits the use on workpieces to which the ordinary C-clamp could not apply.

FIGURE 6 shows a detail of one particular type of lock nut 25. This type is provided with sockets 29 in its periphery to receive a spanner wrench. Lock nuts having hexagon peripheries or other configurations would be equally applicable.

FIGURE shows the application of the clamp to a workpiece where it is desired to apply the pressure at points other than usual. Here the application is to points not in a straight line parallel to the longitudinal axis of the clamp. This particular use of the clamp allows it to apply the pressure at desired points which are beyond the straight line application and which might be useful in clamping glued surfaces together where there is warp in one of the pieces being clamped, and it is necessary to apply the pressure at a particular point. The lock nuts prevent the pipe from turning in the sockets during this use.

FIGURE 7 illustrates in reduced size a plurality of interchangeable longitudinal pieces with the pieces being gradually increased in size and with the increment of increase 31 or 32 being less than the length 33 of the screw 15. This permits the clamp to have application to all sizes of workpieces by use of the correct length of longitudinal piece and adjustment of the screw.

The modification shown in FIGURES 8 and 9 show the clamp used with the ends turned through 180 so that the force is exerted outward against opposing panels. To use the clamp as shown in FIGURES 8 and 9, the end pieces of the clamp are rotated through 180 on the extensions 27 so that the work contacting ends are directed outward. The force exerted by the screw 15 now is in an outward direction so that the workpieces 34 and 35 are held apart. This may be useful where gluing panel pieces to walls, or where any spreading force is desirable. The same longitudinal pieces are used to vary the length of the tool so that the clamp is adaptable to almost any size job.

Referring to FIGURES 2, 8 and 9, the end piece 13 is provided with an off-set element 40. This off-set is to provide clearance for the piece 13 when this clamp is being used with section 27 and may be attached to the piece 13 by having a threaded end 41 threadably engaged with a threaded hole 42. The element may be removed if not needed in the clamping operation, such as that shown in FIGURES 3 and 5.

With a clamp of the type of this invention it is possible to have a tool which will apply to all sizes of workpieces with the addition of such inexpensive additions as pipe sections. Such a clamp gives both adaptation to a workpiece of almost any length and permits adjustment in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis of the clamp to accommodate workpieces of increasing depths.

While a specific form of the invention has been shown and described, it is not intended in any way as a limitation, as the scope of the invention is Set forth in the appended claim.

We claim:

A clamp comprising:

(a) an end piece of substantially J-shape having a threaded socket at the end of the curved portion of the J and a screw mounted in said socket for longitudinal adjustment,

(b) a second end piece of substantially J-shape having an anvil at the end of the curved portion of the J,

(c) each of the stems of said J-shaped end pieces having a threaded branch socket extending laterally therefrom and normal to said stem,

(d) a pair of elongated threaded elements screwed into said branch sockets,

(e) a pair of elbow members screwed on the free ends of said elongated threaded elements and (f) a third elongated threaded element screwed into and connecting said elbow members.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,587,820 6/1926 Carter 269-149 2,114,227 4/1938 Kriss 269-149 2,753,902 7/ 1956 K=lee 269-88 RICHARD H. EANES, JR., Primary Examiner. 

